Turret for casting ladles

ABSTRACT

A casting ladle turret for continuous casting machines comprises a cantilever arm mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and mounted for deflection on a horizontal axis so that either one of two ladles mounted on each end of said arm may be adjusted both horizontally and vertically with respect to the tundish and casting mold. Power cylinders are provided for deflecting the arm in either direction, and means are provided to cushion the arm in the event of loss of pressure in the power cylinders.

United States Pate 1 1 1 3,717,331

Simons 1 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] TURRET FOR CASTING LADLES [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Willi Simons, Dusseldorf, Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assignee: Schloemann Aktiengesellschalt, Dus- 3,185,565 5/1965 Taylor ..266/34V seldorf, Germany Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost [221 Flledi Sept-7,1971 Att0rneyNichol M. Sandoe et al.

21 A 1.No.: 178067 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT A casting ladle turret for continuous casting machines [30] Foreign Application Priority Data comprises a cantilever arm mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and mounted for deflection on a horizon- Sept. 11, 1970 Germany ..P 20 44 979.0 31 axis so that either one of two ladles mounted on each end of said arm may be adjusted both horizontally and vertically with respect to the tundish and [52] 11.8. C1. ..266/l3, 164/281, 266/38 Casting m01d Power cylinders are provided for [51] Int. Cl ..C21c 7/00 deflecting the arm in either direction, and means am Field f Search 34 R, 38, 39, 13; provided to cushion the arm in the event of loss of pressure in the power cylinders.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure TURRET FOR CASTING LADLES The invention relates to a turret for casting ladles in which a cantilever arm, mounted symmetrically to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane, carries a casting ladle at each end, said arm being adapted to convey either of two ladles into a pouring position.

A turret of this nature is particularly suitable for a continuous casting machine in which liquid metal contained in the casting ladle is poured to produce either one continuous casting of large cross section, or several continuous castings of small cross section. The liquid metal issues from the casting ladle through a bottom pouring nozzle and is first received in a tundish from which it is poured into a casting mold. For a number of reasons it is desirable that the distance between the casting ladle and the tundish be as short as possible while pouring. In relation to its volume the pouring jet of metal offers a very large and reactive surface through which it may readily absorb gas. In order to prevent this it has been proposed to use pouring shrouds which protect the pouring metal. In this case the pouring shroud must be at least long enough to bridge the vertical distance between the bottom of the ladle and the surface of the metal in the tundish. If this condition is to be satisfied from the time pouring begins, the ladle must be located very close above the tundish.

For pouring the metal from the tundish into the mold a submerged nozzle is customarily used. For this purpose arrangements are provided by which the tundish can be raised and lowered. It is desirable that the ladle be able to follow these movements.

Although no difficulty rises in adjusting a single casting ladle vertically by means of a foundry crane, the use of a rotatable casting turret presents problems. It is an object of the invention to provide a rotatable turret that is also capable of adjusting the casting ladle in an exactly desired elevational position. According to the invention this is achieved by pivotably mounting the cantilever arm in a rotatable mount in such manner as to permit vertical deflection. Alternately operable power cylinders are provided on each side of said pivot axis to deflect the cantilever arm in both directions.

Thus, the cantilever arm is mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane, and also for deflection in a vertical plane. It is preferred to locate the horizontal pivot axis in a position in which it intersects the vertical pivot axis. This provides a symmetrical arrangement which permits casting ladles mounted at each end of the cantilever arm to be in equilibrium at least at times during casting, thus permitting the thrusts the power cylinders are required to generate to be kept fairly low.

In order to ensure that a sudden loss of pressure in the power cylinders can cause no major disturbance, the baseplate of the mount is fitted near the power cylinders with spring buffers facing the cantilever arm to cushion it. The cantilever arm is thus prevented from striking the baseplate with the full force generated by the weight of the supported ladle. Instead, the arm is gently cushioned so that no consequential damage will ordinarily occur.

The receivers for the casting ladles at the ends of the cantilever arm do not need means for adjusting the vertical level of the casting ladle. If such'means were to be interposed say between the receiver of the casting ladle and the saddle, at least two would be needed for each ladle to ensure a uniform lifting and lowering action. By contrast the present invention has the advantage that a single power cylinder on each side of the cantilever arm is sufficient. However, if desired, other elements may be interposed between the receiver of the casting ladle and the saddle, such as springs for absorbing jolts, or load gauges for continuously measuring the weight of the charge.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing which shows a side elevation of the turret.

In the drawing a fragmentarily and schematically outlined representation of the casting mold portion of a continuous casting machine is indicated generally by reference number 1, above which a casting ladle 2 is to be moved into precise horizontal and vertical alignment for pouring. For this purpose a turret is provided which is mounted on a pedestal 3. The turret comprises a cantilever arm 4 which is carried by a baseplate 5 which is mounted in turn on a turntable 6 for rotation on a vertical axis 7. The drive means for rotating the turret comprises a motor 8 and pinion 9.

The baseplate 5 carries bearing plates 10 in which trunnions 11 are journalled. The horizontal axis of the trunnions 11 is normal to and intersects the axis 7.

Each end of the cantilever arm 4 is provided with a receiver 12 for a saddle 13. For the sake of greater clarity these two last-named members are shown only on the left hand side of the drawing. Load gauges 14 may be interposed between the receiver 12 and the saddle 13 for a continuous measurement of weight. The ladle carrier ring 15 with its shafts I6 is inserted into the saddle 13. Power cylinders such as the hydraulic cylinders 17 are interposed between the baseplate 5 and each branch of the cantilever arm 4 and are operable by fluid under pressure. As shown in the drawing the left hand piston has been extended further than the piston on the right. This has caused the pouring shroud 18 in the bottom of the ladle 2 to be adjusted verticallyto bring its lower end 19 below the surface 20 of the molten metal in the tundish 21. However, although the use of a pouring shroud is advantageous considerable improvements are obtained even when a pouring shroud is not used. The vertical deflectability of the cantilever arm may be limited by stops which permit adjustment of the arm to precisely defined elevational locations which are much more exact than is possible with the use of a foundry crane.

Power cylinders 17 are provided at each end with spherically convex faces 22 for which cooperating sockets 23 are provided in the baseplate and in the cantilever arm. When the deflecting angles vary this ensures that the loads will always act centrally on the power cylinders. Furthermore, the spherical bearings considerably reduce friction during the process of adjustment.

The left hand side of the drawing shows a buffer 24 which is located in the baseplate 5 with its head located below the cantilever arm 4. A similar buffer is located on the right hand side of the machine. Each buffer is cushioned by a stack of Belleville springs which are shown schematically. The cantilever arm 4 may drop into contact with the head of a buffer in the event of 4 loss of pressure in the power cylinder, and will be cushioned thereby.

I claim as my invention: horizontal axis intersects said vertical axis. 1. A casting ladle turret for continuous cast g 3. A turret according to claim 1, in which said power machines comprising a cantilever a rflfeiver cylinders are interposed between said baseplate and mounted at the end of each branch of said cantilever each branch f id cantilever arm, means including a baseplate for mounting said 5 4. A turret according to claim 1, in which said power for 'Q on a vemczfl means for cylinders have a spherically convex face at each end. mounting said cantilever arm on said baseplate for 5 A turret according to claim 3 in which said l d lind r deflection on a honzonta axls an a power Cy e baseplate 18 provided with spring buffers near said located on each branch of said cantilever arm for deflecting said cantilever arm to adjust the vertical 10 power cylinders facmg the canmever arm to cushion the arm in the event of pressure loss.

position thereof.

2. A turret according to claim 1, in which said 

1. A casting ladle turret for continuous casting machines comprising a cantilever arm, a ladle receiver mounted at the end of each branch of said cantilever arm, means including a baseplate for mounting said cantilever arm for rotaTion on a vertical axis, means for mounting said cantilever arm on said baseplate for deflection on a horizontal axis, and a power cylinder located on each branch of said cantilever arm for deflecting said cantilever arm to adjust the vertical position thereof.
 1. A casting ladle turret for continuous casting machines comprising a cantilever arm, a ladle receiver mounted at the end of each branch of said cantilever arm, means including a baseplate for mounting said cantilever arm for rotaTion on a vertical axis, means for mounting said cantilever arm on said baseplate for deflection on a horizontal axis, and a power cylinder located on each branch of said cantilever arm for deflecting said cantilever arm to adjust the vertical position thereof.
 2. A turret according to claim 1, in which said horizontal axis intersects said vertical axis.
 3. A turret according to claim 1, in which said power cylinders are interposed between said baseplate and each branch of said cantilever arm.
 4. A turret according to claim 1, in which said power cylinders have a spherically convex face at each end. 